Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-08-12


on evenly. A strip missed through the
field means barley too green for har-
vesting, and that will blow Out with
the chat when cleaned up. Or if the
farmer waits for the numerous spots TO
ripen the other will become over ripe
and be stained, besides also most likely
lacking in weight. A failure in barley
is more easily made than in any other
grain. and this makes many farmers
disinclned to grow it.
DRYING SUMNER FRUITS.
The patent evaporators have been
mainly purchased by farmers with large
orchards for preserving apples. They
pay well for this. but still more pro-
ftable use of them is found in drying
raspberries and blackberries. There
does not seem to be the danger Of glut-
ting the market with the Summer fruits
that there is with evaporated apples.
Prices might 60 much lower than they
ever have, and yet leave good profit
to the evaporator who grows his own
evaporatng there need be no COM
pulson TO force fruit upon glutted
market, as the dried product will sell
high enough to net six or eight cents
quart for undried fruit. Much is bought
by evaporating factories at lower rates.
but it is still better for the grower to
have the facilities for doing this work
himself. thus getting all the profit from
the fruit that there is in it.
SENDING MILK IN CANS.
Milkmen have learned by extensive
experience that it is unsafe to put milk
fresh from the COW in tightly closed
cans for market without first thorough
ly cooling it. A virulent poison is
likely to be thus developed. Farmers
and others only once in while having
occasion to send away milk may not
understand this fact as well. The air.
tight fruit can is the most convenient
package for doing up quart of milk
to send TO friend or for child. and
unthinkingly the new milk fresh from
the COW is more apt to be put up under
the impression that it will keep longer.
The milk should be entirely cooled be-
fore being sent away. If long keeping
is desired bring il quickly to a boiling
heat in the cans, then seal them so that
the air forced out in boiling may be
kept out, and milk can be kept sweet
several DAYS at least, and longer if
everything has been done carefully.
SELECTING STRAWBERRY PLANTS.
When the straw berry harvest is on is
the time to provide for the new straw
berry bed next year. There are very
few beds that do not contain entirely
too great variety of plants for profit,
and in some the yield is not only small,
but the product inferior. If the plants
are taken early in Spring or in August,
there is sure to be a large proportion
Of these inferior specimens, but If
marked now while in bearing, only the
best need be taken for the new bed. 1t
is not advisable to plant old sets that
have borne a crop. A LAYER from one
of these started now. and given good
care. will be much more vigorous and
productive next season And II is
better to set a new strawberry bed
every year than 10 rely on the old one.
The extra labor in new setting is not
greater than that needed 10 keep the
old bed in tolerable condition, and the
product of the new bed will be greater.
Besides. the fruit will always be larger
and more salable.
THE OX-EYE DAISY.
Were il not such troublesome weed,
the ox-eye daisy would be really pref
ty flower When city people visit the
country at this season they find the
daisy in full bloom, and it is a common
occurrence for ladies of the party to
ask the astonished farmer if they may
be allowed to pick some. OF course.
the farmer gives consent, sometimes
arttully hiding his chagrin at letting
the visitors see how full of weeds his
meadows have grown. a good many
good farmer can see much beauty in
an ox-eye daisy. 1t spreads rapidly
when once introduced, and is worst on
poor land or rich land poorly seeded.
Strong grower as it seems to be, heayi-
" seeding with red clover seed or
alsike will keep most of it from grow
ing. The aim should be to have every
particle Of surface covered with clover.
The ox-eye daisy apparently does not
start quite so early as the clover, and
terminates most freely where it find
vacant spaces to be filled.
NEW POTATOES FROM CALIFORNIA.
A train of twelve cars loaded with
potatoes has left San Francisco for Chi
cago. New potatoes cost in California
ono cont nor Mound The transnorta-